Blake strong ahead of World Indoors

OLYMPIAN ACKEEM Blake continued his preparation for this month’s World Indoor Athletics Championships with another strong performance in the 200 metres at Saturday’s G. C. Foster Classics in St Catherine.

In an impressive display, Blake, representing Dynamic Speed Track Club, defeated the experienced Zharnel Hughes of Great Britain, who was competing for Racers Track Club. Blake clocked a new personal best of 20.20 seconds,while Hughes finished as the runner-up in 20.41.

Competing in his season opener, 400-metre hurdles specialist Roshawn Clarke of Swept Track Club won his half-lap heat in a wind-aided 20.66 seconds, securing third place overall.

The second-fastest man ever over 200 metres, Yohan Blake (19.26), was also in action on Saturday. The crowd warmly received Blake, who was representing Dynamic Speed Track Club. He claimed victory in his heat, clocking 20.96 for fifth place overall. His training partner, Sandrey Davisno, was fourth overall, with his 20.77-second clocking.

Dynamic Speed Track Club secured another win when Jhordane Morgan recorded a personal best of 10.29 seconds to win the men’s 100 metres. Former Kingston College sprinter Adrian Kerr of Motorcade Track Club won his heat in 10.32 to finish second overall, while Morgan’s teammate, Javarie Thomas, also clocked 10.32 for third.

In the women’s 200 metres, Jura Levy of Swept Track Club emerged victorious, finishing in 24.09 seconds, ahead of Holmwood Technical schoolgirl Danielle Lewis, who was second in 24.15. Olympic 400m hurdles finalist Shiann Salmon of SprinTec finished third in 24.19 seconds.

Zambian athletes representing Racers Track Club dominated the men’s 400 metres, securing a one-two finish. Kennedy Luchembe took first place in 47.09 seconds, just ahead of his training partner, Patrick Kakozi Nyambe, who clocked 47.11. SprinTec’s Kadrian Goldson finished third overall in 48.02.

Among the women, Jodean Williams of SprinTec continued her red-hot form in the 60 metres, racing to victory in a wind-aided 7.09 seconds. She finished ahead of G. C. Foster College’s Mickael Moodie, 7.30 seconds.

Khamani Fletcher of G. C. Foster College topped the men’s 60 metres with a winning time of 6.04, followed by Odaine McPherson of SprinTec in second place with 6.77.

In the women’s 400 metres, Roneisha McGregor of UWI Mona claimed victory, stopping the clock at 53.05 seconds. MVP Track Club’s Kelly Ann Beckford finished second in 53.78, while her teammate, Jezelle Shaw, secured third in 55.77.